February 27, 13-15 (IS), E303

Lecture: Introduction – Why a course on research design? How is the course structured?

In this lecture, we introduce the current debates on research design in social sciences. We make a joint list of adequate and important questions to address when we design our own studies.

Literature:
Ackerly & True (2010/2019), chapter 1
George & Bennett (2005), chapter 1
Gerring (2011)
Ragin & Becker (1992), chapters Introduction
Simmons & Smith (2021), chapter 1

March 1, 13-15 (RW), C417

Lecture: The logic of inferences

The logic of causal inferences is often associated with quantitative research but can (or should, according to some) also inspire qualitative research in social sciences. In this lecture, how variables and inferences can be applied to a qualitative research design is presented and discussed. A theory-testing paper in environmental history, inspired by this kind of research, is used as an illustration.

Literature:

George & Bennet (2005), chapter 3, 4, 8
Warlenius (2016)

March 3, 13-15 (IS), C417

Lecture: Case studies and comparisons

In this lecture, we address case-oriented approaches and ask questions like "what is a case" and "what it is a case of?". We discuss different types and purposes of case studies, within-case comparisons and cross-case analysis. We try out different designs of our own studies.

Literature:
Lund (2014)
Mannergren-Selimovic (2017)
Ragin & Becker (1992), chapters 1, 9, 10
Simmons & Smith (2021), chapter 3, 4, 5, 12

March 6, 13-15 (MS), C417

Lecture: Interpretation, messiness and critique

In this lecture, we address how the design of rigorous and robust research demands coherence in epistemological perspective, theoretical framework, and choice of method, as well as how coherence might and does unravel. In so doing, we revisit answers to the questions posed in the previous lecture and (re)consider the role of both politics of method and research design, and of critique.

Literature:
Ackerly and True (2010/2019), chapters 1, 2, 4-7
Aradau & Huysmans (2014)

March 8, 13-15 (MS), C417

Lecture: Doing my homework, getting lost (and panicked), deliberative moments, and creating solutions

In this lecture Maria will walk you through the (recreated) stories of her PhD research journey in order to raise crucial issues of research design in practice. What she did/did not do and why in the design of her PhD thesis.

Literature:
Ackerly and True (2010/2019), chapters 2, 6-7
Stern (2006) (Will be distributed by Maria)

March 10, 13-15 (IS), C417

Seminar I: The (preliminary) design of my dissertation project

Start to think about the design of your dissertation project. What is your design? What is your case/site? What is it a case of in relation to relevant analytic boundaries?

Prepare for the lesson: Select two of the texts from the previous lectures and argue for your (preliminary) choice of design of your dissertation project. Prepare an oral (5 min) presentation (with or without PowerPoint).

Task after the lecture: Send three questions to Isabell for the panel discussion on March 13. Isabell will send them in advance to the panel participants.

March 13, 13-15 (Kilian S, Amalie W, Rikard W), C417

Panel: Research design – what is your approach?

How did you go about designing your study? What are the benefits and limitation of the different designs that you practiced? In what way can the design help us to argue for generalizability?

March 14, 13-15 (IS), C417

Lecture: Mixed methods design

In this lecture, we address the usefulness of multi- and mixed methods design in social sciences. We discuss the advantages of the approaches, as well as its limitations. We do this with the help of two research applications.

Prepare for the lesson: Read the two research applications (you find them here).

Literature:
Ahmed & Sil (2012)
Small (2011)
Yin (2006)
Research applications (See Canvas)

March 16, 10-12 (Student-led seminar), C417

Seminar II: Discuss the (preliminary) design of your dissertation project with your peers

Continue to consider the design of your dissertation project with your peers. How can you further develop and define the case- or comparative approach? Can a mixed methods design be useful for your aim? Depart from the list of questions that ought to be addressed in the section on research design in your dissertation and try to elaborate on each and one of them.

Prepare for the seminar: A written paper (max. 5 pages).

Submission I (here): Submit the paper on Canvas latest 23.59 the same day (March 16). You will receive written comments from Isabell and Arne on the submitted draft.

March 20, 10-12 (AW), C417

Lecture: The turn to mechanisms

The purpose of the lecture is to introduce students to process-tracing and how it may be used for research. The lecture discusses different understandings of causal mechanisms, and which offers the most promise for use when engaging in within-case studies.

Literature:
Beach & Pedersen (2016), chapters 1-3
Bengtsson & Ruonavaara (2017)
Wackenhut (2017), chapter 3 (Will be distributed by Arne - you can also pick up a paper copy in Arne's office (E516a) if you would like)
Simmons & Smith (2021), chapter 2

March 24, 13-15 (AW), E303

Seminar III: Joint supervision

You continue to work on the research design section for your dissertation project.

Prepare for the seminar: Formulate three questions that you want to raise and discuss during the joint supervision seminar.

March 29, Submission II (here) (Submit the final paper on Canvas latest 23.59)

IMPORTANT! Make also sure to upload the final paper under Discussions.

Final paper instructions: The focus of the paper is the research design of your study. However, to make sense of your design you also need to state your research problem and research question, give an idea about the theoretical framework and methods applied in the paper. Importantly, don’t make those sections to detailed and the bulk of the paper, but allow substantial room for your reasoning about choices and challenges with regard to your choice of research design.

The paper should be max. 8 pages long (see instructions here)

March 31, 13-16 (IS), C417

Seminar IV: Peer-review seminar – The (less preliminary) design of my dissertation project

Prepare for the seminar: Read all the drafts and prepare comments. Prepare more detailed comments on one of the participant’s drafts. Prepare a short (5 minutes) presentation of your own paper (with or without PowerPoint).

Isabell will send out a list on the division of labour well in advance!

Course evaluation: We end the course/session with an oral course evaluation. Online course evaluation will also be available.